Future stars take track at USA Youth Championships

6/25/2012

ARLINGTON- Over 2500 of the country’s top young athletes will compete at the 2012USA Youth Outdoor Track & Field Championships June 26 – July 1, 2012 in Arlington, TXat Maverick Stadium on the campus of University of Texas, Arlington.

The 2012 USA Youth Outdoor Track & Field Championships will return to where it began;as Arlington, TX was the first location for this event in 1989. These National Championshipswill feature athletes between the ages 7-18 competing in six, two-year age divisions. TeamChampionships will be awarded in every age division providing youth clubs the opportunityto come together on a national stage.

Participation is up 25% from the 2011 competition and is the highest participation level inthe last six years. This will also be the first year this competition will include internationalathletes. A small contingent of four athletes and three coaches has been approved forparticipation by USATF and the Brazilian Athletics Confederation in an effort to promotecultural exchange in youth athletics.

A full listing of athletes competing can be found at www.usatf.org. Athletes to watch include:

In the Sub-Bantam girls division, Track Houston TC brings another 4x400m to try to hold on to their national record of 5:05.18.

Two Sub-Bantam national record holders return to compete in the Bantam girls division. Dynasty McClennon (Track Houston TC), the 2011 200m Sub-Bantam national record holder, will return to try to claim another title in the 100m. Sub-Bantam national record holder in the 800m, Courtney Wilmington (The Wings Track Club, Inc.) comes into the competition with the third fastest seed time of 2:40.00. Alyssa Harris (Cedar Hill Blaze Track Club) comes in with the fastest time at 2:35.

National and Junior Olympic record holder Raevyn Rodgers is returning to the Youth Championships as an Intermediate girl. A veteran of the program, Rodgers holds records in the 800m in the Midget and Youth age divisions. Rodgers returns to compete in the 400m.

On the boy’s side, Jadan Miller Jones (Texas Torch TC) is a double event threat, as he comes in with the top seeded times in the Sub-Bantam 200m (27.50) and long jump (4.16m/13-8). Miller Jones will try to break 2011 Sub-Bantam national record holder, Matthew Medill’s mark in the long jump. Meanwhile, Medill (Lincoln Jets) will return to compete at the Bantam division in the long jump.

The 2011 Bantam high jump national record holder, Sean Lee (USA High Jump Club) also returns to action in the Midget division. Lee’s jump of (1.76m/5-9.25) gives him the top seed going into the competition.

A live webcast of the track events at the USA Youth Outdoor Championships will be available online. Daily and week-long subscriptions along with additional details are available here.